Court told how nine Asian belly dancers were rescued

 Nine belly dancers who were allegedly trafficked into the country from Asia were rescued from a club by a multi-agency team of officers, a court heard.

Corporal Judith Kimungui from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations told Nairobi chief magistrate Francis Andayi that they received intelligence reports that foreign underage girls were being abused in a city club.

Eight of the girls were Nepalese and one a Pakistani. Intelligence reports said they were underage girls but upon interviews they found out they were over 18 years old.

“We burst into Balle Balle Club in Parklands, Nairobi, after receiving intelligence reports,” Kimungui recalled on Wednesday.

She was testifying in a human trafficking case against two traders Shaikh Furoan Hussain and Abduk Waheed Khan.

Led in her evidence by state prosecutor Angela Fuchaka, the intelligence officer said they were ushered into the club where they found the nine girls gyrating on the dance floor.

Kimungui said immediately they introduced themselves as law enforcers, the girls fled into a room within Balle Balle Club.

The officer said they followed the girls and children officers took them to a safe house.

Inside the club, the officers found 14 men of Asian origin and 11 Africans enjoying the belly dancing.

Hussain and Khan have denied charges of trafficking in persons, harbouring them for purposes of exploitation and interfering with travel documents.

The accused allegedly trafficked in the nine girls between February 19 and July 18 last year.

Hearing continues on October 1.

Edited by Henry Makori